نَّحۡنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيۡكَ نَبَأَهُم بِٱلۡحَقِّ ۚ إِنَّهُمۡ فِتۡيَةٌ ءَامَنُواْ بِرَبِّهِمۡ وَزِدۡنَٰهُمۡ هُدًى
It is We who relate to you, [O Muhammad], their story in truth. Indeed, they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.
Here, Allah pauses the narrative to place a special emphasis.
This is one of the beautiful literary features of the Qur’an known as “iltifat”: in the middle of a story, it suddenly steps back and directs attention to a vital point.
It is just like what a teacher does in the middle of a lesson, upon reaching a particular part that reminds him of something important: He takes off his glasses, takes a sip of water, leans back and says, “Before we go on, there is something really special about this point that you need to know.”
نَّحۡنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيۡكَ نَبَأَهُم بِٱلۡحَقِّ
It is We who relate to you, [O Muhammad], their story in truth.
This statement is important, because the Jews had asked questions about the Companions of the Cave, and the Christians also had their own particular account of it.
So here Allah establishes two things: First, this account is based on the truth. Second, this story is being told to you بِٱلۡحَقِّ (with a purpose in view, truthfully and concisely).
The purpose of this story has already been laid out at the beginning of the surah. Everything you are told rests on that purpose; that is, on the conflict between concern for the Hereafter and attachment to the life of this world, and on the struggle against materialism. Even this story about the Companions of the Cave is connected to that core theme.
Then Allah says:
إِنَّهُمۡ فِتۡيَةٌ
Indeed, they were youths.
He could simply have carried on with the story; but He pauses to emphasize their youth once again. Why? Because Allah wants to bring a striking point to the fore: These were young people; and yet
ءَامَنُواْ بِرَبِّهِمۡ
They believed in their Lord.
This emphasis on their youth reveals the potential that young people hold in difficult times.
We usually see youth as a period of weakness, or a stage in which one easily gives in to the lower self; we always turn our focus to “the problems of young people”. Yet Allah shows us that it is the young, once again, who will choose the hardship of a cave over the comforts of life, and who will give up everything for the sake of holding fast to their religion.
The true standard-bearers of faith and the real embodiments of sacrifice will be the young.
This ayah is, in effect, a wake-up call: Come on, young people, wake up! Just as those youths woke up in the cave, we too, asleep as we are, must wake up.
وَزِدۡنَٰهُمۡ هُدًى
And We increased them in guidance.
When they made their faith known and showed that they were willing to make sacrifices for their beliefs, Allah decreed that a way out be opened for them.
This is that beautiful truth of divine guidance built upon human effort.
He showed them the way to the mountains; He directed them to the right mountain and the right cave. This is what is called “ilham”; that is, divine inspiration.
Allah places a feeling in your heart: “We should turn off to the left here”, “we should turn right there”, “yes, this is the right place”, “we should stay here”… Even their decision to take a dog with them… All of these are forms of inspiration.
Sometimes, when you decide to do something for the sake of Allah’s pleasure, and you are truly determined to hold fast to your faith, Allah places something within you. He inspires you to begin something, to do a task, to take action, to take a step, or to make use of that opportunity.
The true source of success is Allah, and He sees your effort.